Linfield men's basketball and first-year head coach Elijah Gurash welcome two assistant coaches to the team for the program's first season under new leadership.
Gurash announced the hiring of the team's two assistants who recently began their new roles with the team this Fall. Coaches Jesse Bender and Matt Gehrke bring over two decades of unique experience to the Wildcats.
Bender comes to McMinnville after spending a pair of seasons as the assistant coach for the SUNY Canton men's basketball team. In his first season, he helped lead the Roos to 10 wins, and coached a Third-Team All-Conference honoree. Prior to Canton, Bender served as an assistant coach for the Arapahoe High School men's basketball team in Centennial, Colorado. He also leads with experience coaching at the AAU level with Luke Toth Basketball based in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as assistant coaching with the International Sports Academy (ISA) at Andrews Osborne.
"I am beyond excited to be joining the Linfield men's basketball staff. Coach Gurash has a vision for the program that I believe in, and that I am thrilled to help implement." said Jesse Bender. "I look forward to help lead our student-athletes and join in on the storied successes of Linfield athletics."
"I'm grateful and excited to add Jesse Bender to our staff." said head coach Elijah Gurash. "[Jesse] brings great energy, and a willingness to tackle every assignment with enthusiasm. I believe he will add great value to our program as he invests in our student-athletes on and off the court."
Matt Gehrke joins the staff after over 20 years of coaching at the AAU level in the greater Portland area. Gehrke is the founder and director of G-Elite Basketball, an AAu program that has helped develop young student-athletes into successful collegiate basketball players. He brings experience coaching at the varsity high school level as well, competing in the Metro League. A U.S. Army veteran, and licensed nurse, Gehrke uses his past experiences to help shape his leadership, discipline, and ability to mentor athletes through hardship.
"I'm excited to join the Linfield men's basketball team, and continue to contribute to the program's culture of development, accountability, and excellence." said Gehrke.
"Matt is coming to us with an extensive background in working with youth athletes of all ages. He is hungry and eager to learn and grow at the next level. He will without a doubt become an asset for our team." said Gurash in regards to assistant coach Matt Gehrke.
The Wildcat men's basketball team looks ahead to their first taste of competition to come on November 8th in Eugene, Oregon, where the team is set to face Bushnell of the Cascade Collegiate Conference at 7:30 p.m. The new coaching staff makes their home debut two days later, hosting La Verne inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium at 4:30 p.m.
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